Lot
1155

A BRONZE INK REST

16TH-17TH CENTURY

A BRONZE INK REST
16TH-17TH CENTURY
The surface of the ink rest is cast with a three-character inscription, Wuyujue, enclosed within a plectrum-shaped medallion surrounded by two chilong, all raised on four columnar legs.A partially illegible four-character mark ?? zao zhi (made by ??) is cast on the back.
3 ½ in. (8.8 cm.) long

Lot Essay

Wuyujue, which literally means 'black jade ring-shaped pendant', was used to refer to a fine quality ink cake in classic Chinese literature.

The design of the present ink rest is likely inspired by the Wuyujue ink cake designed and published by Cheng Junfang, a scholar-turned-artist focusing on ink cake manufacturing, who was active during the Jiajing and Wanli periods (1522-1620). On the original ink cake design, the inscription on the front and back read miaopin (fine grade) and qiwan (curios).